Surgeons remove 4-pound hairball from 400-pound tiger

Veterinarians at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Clearwater, Fla., surgically removed a 4-pound hairball from the stomach of a 17-year-old male tiger Wednesday. The tiger, named Ty, hadn't eaten for two weeks. Veterinarians diagnosed the hairy obstruction with a camera attached to a scope. The 400-pound cat lives at the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Seminole. To read more, go to: Tiger Hairball

Dogs exposed to garden and lawn chemicals may have a higher risk of bladder cancer.

Study: Cancer-linked herbicide found in dogs

Commonly used residential herbicides that have been linked to cancer in dogs and people are picked up by dogs and put people around them at risk, according to new research from Purdue University's Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Certain breeds with a higher incidence of bladder cancer may be more at risk from the chemicals. "The likelihood that children, who share the local environment with their pets, are similarly exposed to these chemicals is high and thus additional studies should be conducted to evaluate this possibility," said veterinarian and epidemiology expert John Reif. To read more, go to: Pesticides and Bladder Cancer

Dogs Learning to Pick up the Scent of Cancer

The University of Pennsylvania and the Monell Chemical Senses Center are training three dogs to help detect compounds produced by ovarian cancer, providing a possible way to detect the disease in its earliest, most treatable stages. Early-stage ovarian cancer, which has a 90% survival rate, is difficult to detect, and later stages carry a worse prognosis and kill 14,000 U.S. women annually. The Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation is funding the research with an $80,000 grant. To read more about this, go to: Dogs Detecting Cancer

Naki'o, a mixed-breed dog with four prosthetic devices, poses for a photo in Colorado Springs April 12, 2013. Naki'o lost all four feet to frostbite when he was abandoned as a puppy in a foreclosed home.

Naki'o, First 'Bionic' Dog To Receive Four Prosthetics After Losing Paws To Frostbite

During the winter, rescuers of an animal center found him in a puddle with all four paws and the tip of his tail frozen. Naki'o received full medical attention, but the severe damage from frostbite cost him his paws and left him lame and unable to walk and play. This lowered his chances of finding a new owner.

However, a veterinarian assistant Christie Pace from Colorado Springs saw Naki'o needed a new home and life. Without hesitation, she adopted him at 8-weeks-old and began scouting organizations who could help Naki'o walk again.

"I have a soft spot for rescue animals in general. I was looking for something different, unique," Pace told Metro news.
"I wanted to make more of a difference than a regular dog. I knew I could help him out."
So Pace organized a fundraiser with the help of Ortho Pets, a Colorado-based company that specializes in veterinary orthotics and prosthetics, to get rear leg prosthetics fitted for Naki'o. The effort paid off, and they were able to afford prosthetics that cost between $930 and $3,100.
Read more at; The World's First Bionic Dog

Sierra lost her life

Dog fatally poisoned by one penny

Some dogs will eat just about anything, from chicken bones to plants to prescription pills.

One poor pooch from Colorado lost her life after eating another item found commonly in households: a penny.

Animals May Play Bigger Role Than Toys in Aiding Autistic Children

Animals can have a greater impact than toys in improving the social behavior of children diagnosed with autism, the Human Animal Bond Research Initiative reported Monday.
A study by Marguerite O'Haire, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Queensland in Australia, and three other researchers found that participants demonstrated more social behaviors such as talking, looking at faces and making tactile contact when in the presence of animals compared to toys.

“The presence of an animal appears to encourage socialization among children with autism and their peers,” O'Haire said. “When with an animal, children with autism smiled and laughed more often, were more talkative, and looked at people's faces more than they did when with toys.” The study involved 33 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 66 typically developing peers. Groups of one ASD child and two peers were recorded playing with toys and then with two guinea pigs.

Researchers found that ASD children displayed more pro-social behaviors and positive effects when in the presence of animals compared to toys and less frowning, crying and whining.
An estimated one in every 50 U.S. children has ASD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Did you say "Ride"???

Top Ten Safest Cars for Pets

Pet safety for furry passengers has been a popular news topic over the past year, with New Jersey considering mandatory seat belts for dogs and cats, and Subaru partnering with the Center for Pet Safety to fund testing of car safety restraints for pets.

Now Edmunds.com, a site that provides consumers with automotive information and shopping advice, has released its list of the 10 safest vehicles for pets.

EVO & California Natural Food Recall

Bravo Chicken Recall

Testing by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture discovered the presence of Salmonella in product sampled from a retail location, prompting the voluntary recall of 2-lb tubes of Bravo! Chicken Blend frozen raw diet tubes.

Cat Food Recall

Cats fed the affected foods for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. Symptoms of thiamine deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. In advanced cases, neurological signs can develop, which may include ventriflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, falling, circling and seizures. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency typically is reversible.

He'll have the poo poo platter

DNA testing eyed to solve dog poop deluge in Dallas

A foul-smelling case of excessive dog poop in Dallas, Texas, has driven one company to propose a high-tech solution.

Tennessee-based Poo Prints recently demonstrated its DNA Pet Waste Management system to the Dallas City Council in hopes that the city will adopt the system to analyze unscooped poop for DNA and track down irresponsible dog owners.

Study suggests dogs comprehend human point of view

If you have a sneaking suspicion that your dog waits until your guard is down to advance on a nearby piece of food, you might be exactly right.
A recently published study from the University of Portsmouth’s Department of Psychology found that dogs are four times more likely to take food in a dark room after being forbidden by a human than they are in a lit room.